Irish President Pardons Two Men Executed in 1883

The president of Ireland has issued pardons for two individuals who were executed over 140 years in the past. On Wednesday, President Michael D Higgins formally granted a pardon to Sylvester Poff, aged 35, and James Barrett, aged 21, concerning the 1882 murder of Thomas Browne in County Kerry. Speaking at a ceremony held at Arás an Uachtaráin, the presidential residence, which was attended by the men’s descendants, President Higgins stated: “While we cannot undo what happened, we do have the power to acknowledge that what happened to Sylvester Poff and James Barrett was a great wrong.” He further added: “I am pleased to be able to formally grant a presidential pardon to each of the men today, and to at least set the record straight.” President Higgins expressed his hope, saying: “I hope that by doing so will bring a sense of closure to their families following almost 142 years.” Mr. Poff and Mr. Barrett, who were related as cousins, were executed by hanging at Tralee Gaol in January 1883. This occurred after their conviction for the murder of Thomas Browne, which took place on his farm in Dromulton three months prior. Following an expert review conducted in April 2024, the Department of Justice put forward a recommendation for Mr. Poff and Mr. Barrett to be granted a posthumous presidential pardon. Dr. Niamh Howlin, a legal expert from University College Dublin responsible for conducting the review, concluded that the convictions were unreliable because they did not align with the legal standards prevalent in the 1880s. Dr. Howlin concurred that a contemporary court would not issue a conviction based on the evidence that was presented in 1882. Mr. Browne’s murder occurred as he was engaged in work within one of his fields in Dromulton, a location close to Scartaglin. A nearby resident observed two individuals, attired in dark coats, entering the field shortly before Mr. Browne sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the fact that Mr. Poff and Mr. Barrett did not correspond to the descriptions provided for the attackers, they were present in the vicinity when the murder occurred and were apprehended subsequent to the neighbour’s testimony. Their trial proceeded before two distinct special juries in County Cork, as the initial jury was unable to arrive at a verdict. Subsequent to the second trial, they were found guilty of murder, and despite their appeals for clemency directed to the lord lieutenant, their executions were carried out. The investigation into this case was initiated by local historian Michael O’Donoghue, who came across the narrative of Mr. Poff and Mr. Bartlett at Tralee Library. Upon Mr. O’Donoghue’s death in 2008, his accumulated papers were put into storage. In 2014, Johnny Roche and Janet Murphy, members of the Castleisland District Heritage Group, continued his work, expanded the research, and recognized the potential for a pardon. Posthumous presidential pardons have been exceptionally uncommon throughout the history of the Irish state; this marks the fourth instance where a historical conviction has been reversed. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.